Envelope or stamp moistener



(No Model.)

H. A. vFRY. ENVELOPE 0E STAMP MOISTENER.

No. 509,156. Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

INVENTOH d/J WITNESSES. Wz/Qz 42?;

ATTORNEYS.

n45 NATI'ONAL LITHDGRAPNXNG COMPANY- UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HENRY A. FRY, OF SAN FRANQISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ENVELOPE OR STAMP MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,156, dated November 21, 1893.

Application filed March 9,1893. Serial No. 465,255. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. FRY, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Envelope or Stamp Moistener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for moistening the gum of envelopes and the backs of postage or other stamps which are to be applied to envelopes or other matter, and the object of my invention is to produce a simple device which may be worn upon the thumb without inconvenience, and by which a person may rapidly and efficiently moisten the envelopes and stamps.

To this end, my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device as applied to the hand. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the felt cap in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 33 in Fig.2; and Fig. 4 is a broken detail sectional view of the valve stem.

The device is provided with a water reservoir 10, which on its inner and back sides swells outward slightly so as to fit nicely against the forefinger of the hand, and on the opposite side the reservoir swells outward as shown at 11, and is then curved inward, as shown at 11*,the inward curve being adapted to come opposite the thumb of the operator. The reservoir has a reduced top 12, which is closed by a removable stopper 13, and the latter is provided with a metal cover 14, in which is threaded a vertical valve stem 15, which extends downward through the reservoir, and the lower end of the stem carries a plug valve 16, whichis adapted to be seated in the mouth of the outlet 17. The valve stem 15 is hollow at its upper end, and has a side opening 15 into the reservoir. It has an open upper end which terminates in a coil 15. This arrangement permits sufficient air to enter thereservoir to cause the water to flow out freely, and the coil 15 prevents the water from leaking through the stem. The tube 17 opens from the bottom of the reservoir and extends downward and outward so as to come beneath the thumb of the operator, at which point it terminates in a socket 18, carrying a moistening pad 19, which is preferably of felt, but may be of any suitable material. The socket 18 is open at the bottom so that the moistening pad may extend beneath it, and the pad is elongated so as to have a suflicient bearing surface to enable it to be conveniently applied to articles to be moistened. On the sides of the socket 18 are flanges 20, against which fitsa cap 21, which cap is placed over the pad 19 when the moistener is not in use,

and serves to keep the pad moist.

Above the socket 18, and opposite the inwardly curved portion 11 of the reservoir is an open-ended keeper 22, which is preferably of elastic material and which is adapted to fit upon the thumb of the operator. This keeper is large enough to enable it to be pushed upon the thumb so as to fit around the second joint, and consequently the free end of the thumb is uncovered and may be used in the ordinary manner about ones work.

The reservoir 10 is filled or partially filled with water, and when not in use the valve 16 "is forced downward into the mouth of the tube 17, so as to prevent the device from leaking. By reference to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noticed that the stem 15 is screw-threaded into the cover 14 of the stopper 13, so that it may be adjusted up and down by simply turning it in the cover.

WVhen the device is to be used, the cap 21 is to be removed, the valve 16 adjusted so as to let just the .right quantity of water flow through to the pad, and the pad 19 is then rubbed across the stamps or envelopes to be moistened, and it will be readily seen that the articles may be moistened with great speed. The shape of the pad also enables the moisture to be evenly applied to the articles. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. A moistening device, comprising a reservoir, a keeper for attaching the reservoir to the hand, a moistening pad arranged beneath the reservoir, and a valve-controlled connection between the reservoir and the pad, substantially as described.

2. A moistening device, comprising a reservoir, having a removable stopper at the top and a valve-controlled outlet at the bottom, a keeper secured to one side of the reservoir and adapted to fit the thumb, a socket arranged beneath the keeper and provided with a moistening pad, and a tube leading from the reservoir outlet to the socket, substantially as described.

3. A moistening device, comprising a reservoir shaped to tit between the thumb and finger and having an inward curve adapted to come opposite the thumb, a keeper secured to the reservoir opposite the inward curve therein, a socket arranged beneath the keeper and provided with a moistening pad, and a valve-controlled tube leading from the reservoir to the socket, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the reservoir having a keeper to fasten it to the hand,a socket arranged beneath the keeper, a pad held Within the socket, and a supply pipe connecting the reservoir and the socket, of a cap or cover shaped to fit over the pad and upon the socket, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the reservoir having an outlet at the bottom, and a removable stopper at the top, the valve to close the outlet, and the valve stem connected with the valve and extending through the stopper, the stem having a top terminal coil and. a hollow upper portion opening into the reservoir, substantially as described.

HENRY A. FRY. Witnesses:

LEE D. CRAIG, W. R. CRAIG. 

